No love lost for TDs on Valentine's Day as unions' lobbying over pension levy begins

TDS ARE unlikely to be feeling the love this Valentine’s Day as public service unions start a nationwide campaign of lobbying. Instead of receiving bouquets, TDs will be lambasted by public servants who feel the Government is cheating them by introducing a pension levy.

The levy, announced last week by Taoiseach Brian Cowen, would be an unfair extra tax on public servants’ pay, unions have said.

The campaign, spearheaded by Impact with the support of the Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) and Siptu, will see TDs all around the country receive at least one Valentine’s Day message from a public servant. A campaign of e-mailing TDs has already begun. Over 1,000 e-mails were received by Impact headquarters from people who were also e-mailing their local TDs, an Impact spokesman said.

He said informal groups around the country would be targeting Ministers. In Arklow, a group would be protesting outside the constituency office of Minister of State Dick Roche, in Limerick, Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea could expect a visit as could Minister for Enterprise and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan in Donegal.

“With the INO and Siptu weighing in behind us, we expect it to be a good campaign.”

He said Impact was putting emphasis on lobbying Government TDs, but felt it was important that Opposition TDs were also contacted.

INO general secretary Liam Doran said a large number of his members would visit Fianna Fáil backbenchers today. Recent developments including the €7 billion bank bailout and cuts in funding for special needs teachers had galvanised people.

A spokesman for Siptu said their focus was the February 21st demonstration, but they would support today’s protests. Also today, a national meeting of public sector union members is planned for the Davenport Hotel in Dublin.

The informal group, chaired by former president of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, Paddy Healy, will discuss the need for a one-day national strike.